Alon Kleinman killed in Khan Younis: 'He didn’t think about himself in those moments'
For Sgt. First Class Alon Kleinman, the word “impossible” simply wasn’t part of his vocabulary. Whether on the basketball court, where he fought for his spot despite an injury, or when he asked his commander, who had cut him from the elite Sayeret Matkal unit, for a list of “points for improvement,” Alon consistently pursued excellence.
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On Feb. 11, 2024, in the heart of Khan Younis, that determination reached its fateful moment. Alon did not hesitate to enter a burning building under RPG fire to rescue his Maglan unit teammates. He fell a hero, just 21 years old, leaving behind a legacy of deep camaraderie and a memorial space dedicated to unity in his name. He was the son of Lilach and Guy, twin brother to Erez, and both were younger siblings to Gal.
“Your Fist”: The home where determination was born
Alon grew up in a home where family was the highest value. His sister Gal described a close and special bond: “Me, Erez and Alon are twins, and we really grew up like triplets because we’re all so close in age, just two years apart. We were raised with the understanding that there’s nothing more important than family, and that we’re each other’s best friends.” Erez added about their symbiotic relationship: “Your twin brother is your best friend... You always know that no matter what happens, you’ve got someone behind you, you’ve got your fist.”
Even as a child, Alon stood out for his sense of order and precision. Gal remembered how they would get allowance money from their grandmother: “Alon would carefully collect and calculate his money, writing it all down on notes. Eventually, he had quite a bit saved up and somehow Erez didn’t have any left.” That drive to plan and strive for perfection stayed with him. “He was just someone who aimed for perfection,” said Erez. “I would always look at him and think ‘wow,’ like he was someone to admire. At some point, it even got annoying, how can you aim that high all the time?”
Alon’s determination was tested on the basketball court. “Even though he was my younger brother, he was a role model for me too,” Gal said. “There was a point when he got injured and wasn’t as strong on the court, but he didn’t give up... he was the embodiment of determination and dedication to a goal.” His girlfriend, Shir Cohen, recalled their runs together, where his inner drive came to light: “He’d tell me, ‘Shir, you don’t understand, this is for myself, it’s for my soul.’ There were times I’d go with him, he’d run, and I’d ride alongside on a bike.”
The road to Maglan: “Please give me points for improvement”
His desire for meaningful service was sparked by a news segment about the Maglan special forces unit. Alon rallied his friends to grueling pre-army training sessions. His military path was not without challenges: he began in flight school, transferred to Sayeret Matkal, and eventually joined Maglan. Gal recounted the moment he was cut from Matkal, a moment that revealed his noble character: “When they told him he wouldn’t continue, he came back five minutes later with a piece of paper and told the commander, ‘It’s fine that I’m being dismissed, I accept it, just please give me points for improvement.’”
In his unit, Alon was more than a technical fighter. Y., a teammate, spoke about his extraordinary sensitivity: “What struck me most was his awareness of those around him. His ability to truly connect with everyone in the team and understand the complexity of each person. In a population where everyone’s a tough fighter, you need people like that—who see one another.”
The final battle took place in Khan Younis, near Nasser Hospital. During a building sweep, an RPG was fired at the unit. Alon, who always acted out of an instinct to give, did not stay behind. “Alon didn’t think about himself in those moments,” Shir said. “He didn’t stay outside the room. He went in. Because it was important to him to save his friends.” A second RPG fired at the building struck him critically. He was airlifted by helicopter, but was pronounced dead en route.
The legacy: Optimism in the shadow of heartbreak
The devastating news split the family’s life in two. “My life is divided into before February 11, 2024, and after,” said Gal. But from the abyss, Alon’s parents chose life. “Just a day after the shiva ended, our parents sat us down and said: ‘The worst has happened to us. There will always be a hole in our hearts in the shape of Alon, but we are moving forward.’”
A lookout point was established in his memory, intended as a center of unity and love of the land. “I hope it reaches out like octopus arms across the country,” said Erez. “That it spreads some of his values everywhere. A little more camaraderie, a little more unity. So there’s optimism, there’s hope.” Shir summed up the inspiration he left behind: “The number of people who came up to me after he was killed and said, ‘You don’t know how much Alon supported me.’ He truly was someone to look up to.”
The legacy of Alon Kleinman is one of uncompromising determination, deep human empathy, and the ability to know what matters and to carry it through to the end.
Sgt. First Class Alon Kleinman, Maglan Unit, fell in battle on Feb. 11, 2024, 3 Adar I 5784. He was 21.
May his memory be a blessing.
Sergeant First Class
Alon Kleinman